Nepalese political parties strike long-awaited Constitution deal

Kathmandu: Nepal's warring political parties have sealed a landmark 16-point deal to end years of deadlock over contentious issues of Constitution-drafting, agreeing to a Parliamentary system and eight provinces, in a rare show of unity following the devastating quakes.

Top leaders of the Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML, UCPN (Maoist) and Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) agreed to adopt an 8-province federal model, Parliamentary system of governance, mixed electoral model and include the provision of a Constitutional Court for 10 years in the new statute as part of a compromise deal.

The deal was inked late last night with an aim to deliver a Constitution within the next few months, according to sources close to the Nepali Congress.

The four major political parties that command around 490 seats in the 601-member Constituent Assembly (CA) also secured the support from some other fringe parties including the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), CPN (ML), for the agreement.

The pact was a historic one as it will pave the way for the drafting of the new Constitution at the earliest. As per the agreement, the task of delineating provinces will be entrusted to a federal commission to be formed shortly. They have announced a two-thirds majority of the concerned provincial assembly shall name its province.

"The government of Nepal shall constitute a federal commission and it will be entrusted with the task of delineating the provinces," the 16-point agreement stated.

The commission will have given six-month tenure. There shall be a bicameral Parliament at the Centre with a 275-member Lower House and a 45-member Upper House.